4.3 Wetland Natural Communities
insectivorous plants. One of the most notable features of pine savanna communities is their tremendous plant diversity at small scales.
• Sandhill seeps occur on sloping seepage areas, where the wettest parts are essentially permanently saturated. Tey share many species with the pine savanna type but are more heterogeneous and more bog-like in character. In frequently burned seeps, grassy and sedgy areas can have a high diversity of plants, rivaling the pine savannas in spe- cies richness at small scales. • Wet pine fatwoods communities usually occur in fat areas, though sloping areas are possible. Tey resemble pine savannas in general structure, with an open pine canopy over a grassy ground cover with low shrubs. Wiregrass is always the dominant herb. Shrubs become dense if fre is excluded. Unlike pine savannas, the herb diversity is low: in many cases, only one to fve species may be present in a square meter.
Te 2005 WAP describes Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain wet pine savannas as a priority habitat (see Chapter 5) (NCWRC 2005) .
4.3.11.2 Location of Habitat Te Green Swamp, Holly Shelter, and Sandhills Game Lands and the Croatan National Forest contain good examples of this habitat.
4.3.11.3 Problems Affecting Habitats Intensively managed pine plantations, urban development, a lack of fre, and subsequent habitat fragmentation continue to threaten these communities. Climate change may exac- erbate some of these problems. New alternative energy development in the region, such as natural gas fracking and biofuel harvesting, may be an emerging threat but it is uncertain what direct efect these will have on wildlife. Anticipated indirect impacts will include displacement from loss of habitat and loss of connectivity due to habitat fragmentation. Table 4.25 identifes the most important threats and summarizes the anticipated impacts. Although no invasive exotic plants are a serious problem in these systems now, early detec- tion and control of invasive exotic species (such as Cogon Grass) will reduce the ecological damage caused by invasives and the cost of controlling them. Preventative measures such as forbidding sale and transport of invasive species will help reduce the risks and cost. Fire Ants are already a serious cause for concern for many of the animal species that inhabit savannas.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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